News Releases
Crapo Named To High-Tech Task Force
Washington, DC â?? Idahoâ??s high tech industries will gain a higher profile in the nationâ??s capital with Idaho Senator Mike Crapo being named a member of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force. Crapo was selected for the task force by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and will serve for the duration of the 108th Congress.â??A significant portion of Idahoâ??s business growth in recent years has been generated by the high tech sector,â?? Crapo said. â??These high growth companies are facing… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo Announces Staff Changes
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has hired three news staff members in Washington, D.C.Newly hired Legislative Assistant Matt Hughes will take over responsibilities for issues related to health, Medicare/Medicaid, welfare, Social Security, Hispanic, and seniors. Hughes worked previously for PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) as Director of Alliance Development, for Representative Mark Kennedy (R-Minnesota) as a Legislative Assistant, and the Minnesota State L… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo Calls For Idaho Housing Grant Applications
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo wants Idaho homeless and housing advocates to take full advantage of grant opportunities just announced by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The fiscal year 2003 â??SuperNOFAâ?? (Notification of Funding Availability) includes 43 separate funding opportunities for local communities, states, and other organizations involved with homeless individuals, affordable housing, and economic protection.â??Idahoans have long recognized the imp… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo To Discuss Biodiesel & Ethanol; Future Of Mass Transit; Attend Patriotic Assembly & Promote Cancer Awareness
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo begins a week of travel across Idaho with a show of support for what could be Idahoâ??s first major production plant for ethanol and biodiesel fuel production. Crapo will meet in Fruitland with officials of Treasure Valley Renewable Resources, at a time when federal officials are calling for increases in the production of both ethanol and biodiesel fuels.Crapo will also meet with Idaho tribal leaders to discuss wind power in Idaho, and he will hold a pre… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Delegation Praises Trade Sanctions Against Hynix
WASHINGTON, DC â?? Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo and Representatives Mike Simpson and C.L. â??Butchâ?? Otter praised the U.S. Department of Commerce ruling today to impose a 57.37% countervailing duty against Hynix Semiconductor. This afternoon the Department announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty investigation on imports of DRAMS from Korea. The Department has preliminarily found that imports of DRAMS were unfairly subsidized, with net subsidy… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Clean Water Funding Doubles Under Crapo Amendment To Budget
Washington, DC - States will receive more than twice the federal help they now get for drinking water and wastewater improvements under an amendment to the Budget Resolution authored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. The amendment was approved by voice vote in the full Senate this morning and will be included in the Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Resolution now being debated by the U.S. Senate. A vote on the full resolution is expected before the end of the week.Crapo chairs the Senate Environment and Publi… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Senate Committee Again Approves Crapoâ??s EPA Ombudsman Bill
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapoâ??s efforts to establish a permanent and independent ombudsman to oversee activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today won approval from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the same committee that approved a similar bill last session. The full Senate followed suit in passing Crapoâ??s ombudsman bill last year, but the 107th Congress ended before the House could consider the bill.â??An ombudsman is more than just an ac… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Delegation Applauds USDA Decision to Waive Sugar PIK Fines for Idaho Growers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho's Congressional Delegation today received confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that dozens of Idaho sugar producers facing fines for their participation in the 2001 Sugar Payment-In-Kind (PIK) program would have their fines waived. Specifically, producers who participated in the program as a joint husband and wife operation will now be determined to have been proper participants in the program.The Idaho Congressional Delegation has been working… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo Advocates Full Funding For Domestic Violence Prevention Programs
Washington, D.C. -- Additional efforts to combat violence against women are gaining momentum in the Senate. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined his colleagues in the Senate in calling for full funding in fiscal year 2004 of programs which fall under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Crapo and a number of his colleagues in the Senate sent letters to the Senate Appropriations Committee, insisting that it meet the funding levels set by Congress when VAWA was first enacted. The reauthorization of V… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo, Committee Approve Massive PlansFor Ethanol, Alternative Fuel Production
Washington, DC - Ethanol and alternative fuel production got a huge shot in the arm today as Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and fellow members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved plans for the federal government to ensure the production of up to five billion gallons of ethanol and other alternative fuels. The vote came as the committee considered plans for new, non-polluting additives for gasoline. â??The call for new production of five billion gallons of ethanol will unleash… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo, Otter Win Award For Excellence From Nationâ??s Largest Trade Group
Boise â?? The nationâ??s largest industrial trade association is honoring two members of Idahoâ??s Congressional Delegation for their votes in Congress that favor of policies that will benefit manufacturers and workers. On behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Boise Cascade Corporation Chairman and CEO George Harad today presented Senator Mike Crapo and Congressman C.L. â??Butchâ?? Otter with NAMâ??s Award for Legislative Excellence.Crapo and Otter, like Senator Larry Craig … Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo: We Need to Support Troops,Protect National Security
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo tonight praised President George W. Bushâ??s leadership in defending U.S. national security interests and called on Idahoans and Americans to â??support our troops and the right to defend ourselvesâ?? against the threat of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Crapo said the Presidentâ??s points about these being the â??final days of decisionâ?? and that â??our peaceful efforts to disarm this regime have failed because this is not a peaceful regimeâ?? were on … Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Idaho Delegation Reacts to Laboratory Restructuring
WASHINGTON, DC â?? Idahoâ??s Congressional delegation reacted to the U.S. Department of Energyâ??s announcement today to compete and award separate contracts for what was previously the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory West. One contract will be negotiated for the environmental remediation work at both sites and a separate contract will be structured for the new â??Idaho National Laboratoryâ?? to encompass the research aspects of both labs. … Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo: Endangered Species Act Reform Can Start With Critical Habitat DESIGNATION
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo accelerated efforts to reform the federal Endangered Species Act today at a hearing examining the process under which critical habitat to save species is designated and how the process is managed. Crapo, who presided over the hearing as the chairman of the Senate subcommittee with jurisdiction over ESA reform, is continuing what he calls â??rifle shot reformsâ?? to the ESA. Crapo says that â??wholesale reforms to the ESA are simply not politically possib… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo Calls Hud Grants
Washington, DC â?? The City of Pocatello will receive over $600,000 in community block grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the current year, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announced today. According to figures released by HUD released this afternoon, Pocatello will be awarded $623,000 in Community Development Block Grants.â??This much-needed money coming to Pocatello will create a better living environment for low- and moderate-income families,â?? Crapo said. â??Housin… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo Questions U.S. Fish & Wildlife Director onIdaho Wolves, Updates Iraq Situation
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Director Steve Williams discussed future management of Idahoâ??s wolf populations during a Senate subcommittee hearing today. Williams told Crapo that his agency is comfortable with Idahoâ??s wolf management process and, as long as it is consistent with the law, he will support whatever Idaho wants to do with the program. Crapo addressed Williams during a meeting of the Senate subcommittee Crapo chairs, the Environment and Pu… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo: Federal Agencies Should Pay Fair Share
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo wants federal agencies to pay their fair share of filing fees in water rights cases, and heâ??s introduced legislation to require just that. Crapo, recognized by many in Congress for his expertise in water rights law, says the Water Adjudication Fee Fairness Act of 2003 would remedy a long-standing practice that allows the federal government to waive fees and costs faced by states and other private users.Crapo said in a statement introducing the bill, … Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Delegation, Governor Say Wolf Actions Could Benefit Idaho Management Plan
Washington, DC - Idahoâ??s Congressional Delegation and Governor Kempthorne said an announcement today that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service plans to reclassify many reintroduced wolf populations could have a silver lining for Idaho, even though the actions affect only wolves north of Interstate 90. The silver lining comes in the form of separate comments from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director during a hearing on Capitol Hill.During a Senate subcommittee hearing chaired by Idaho … Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo: Idahoâ??s Borders Deserve Protection
Washington, DC â?? Citing the need for homeland security and fairness, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has joined with two Washington Senators to introduce the â??Northern Border Prosecution Initiative Reimbursement Act.â?? The legislation, introduced by Crapo, Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), and Patty Murray (D-Washington), would allow states with northern borders to be eligible for reimbursement of prosecution-related costs on immigration cases.â??Idaho and other northern border states are facing an i… Continue Reading
February 23, 2005
Crapo And Craig Want Apple Crop Insurance Extended
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig joined with a bipartisan coalition of Senators from around the country to urge the USDA to improve crop insurance coverage for all apple farmers in Idaho and across the country. The group sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to urge her to extend crop insurance coverage to fresh-market and processing apples for the 2004 crop year. The present crop insurance policy for apples only covers low-grade, low-priced juice apples.… Continue Reading
